THE champion two-year-old in France and the second highest rated two-year-old in Europe in 2015, Shalaa is standing his first season in 2017 and among the mares booked to visit him is Treve, twice winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Shalaa was sold for 100,000gns as a foal and then 170,000gns as a yearling, going to be trained at Newmarket by John Gosden for Al Shaqab Racing. He won six consecutive races from only eight starts, all over six furlongs, beginning with a two-length victory in a maiden race at Newmarket on his second appearance at the end of May. It was again at Newmarket that he won the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes, scoring comfortably by a length from Steady Pace. Going on to Goodwood three weeks later for the Group 2 Qatar Richmond Stakes, Shalaa won very impressively by almost three lengths from Tasleet and Steady Pace.

Still improving, Shalaa was next sent to Deauville for the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny in August and he was very impressive in scoring quite easily by a length and three quarters from the speedy Gutaifan, with the third finisher another five lengths away. Gutaifan had recently won the Prix Robert Papin and he added the Flying Childers Stakes next time out. A month later, Shalaa made another successful appearance at Newmarket in a strong field for the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes. Asked by Frankie Dettori to make all the running, he won easing up by half a length from Buratino, who was two lengths clear of Steady Pace and Ajaya.

Timeform’s Racehorses of 2015 assessed Shalaa as the second best two-year-old colt in Europe on 123, with that ranking confirmed by the official European list which rated him on 121, giving him also the status of the best juvenile to have raced in France that year.

Unfortunately an injury kept Shalaa off the track for most of 2016, but he was able to return briefly in the autumn. Just over a year after his Middle Park triumph, he made his comeback in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot and won by a neck.

Shalaa is one of 15 Group 1 winners sired by the champion sprinter Invincible Spirit, a son of Green Desert whose other top-class sons include Kingman, Lawman, Charm Spirit, Profitable, Territories and Mayson, not forgetting his brilliant daughter Moonlight Cloud.

Shalaa’s dam Ghurra, a graded-placed winner on both sides of the Atlantic, is half-sister to six blacktype performers including the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes hero Hayil. he next dam is half-sister to the dam of Wild Rush, a dual Grade 1 winner in the USA and a very successful sire in Japan.

Champion 2yr old colt in France in 2015. 2nd top rated 2yr old colt in Europe in 2015. Won six races, £460,122, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Darley Prix Morny, Deauville, Gr.1, Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Arqana July Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, Qatar Richmond Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.2, John Guest Bengough Stakes, Ascot, Gr.3

Retires to stud in 2017.

Stands at: Haras de Bouquetot, 14130 Clarbec, France.

Telephone: +33 (0) 2 31 32 28 91

Email: contact@bouquetot.com

Web: www.alshaqabracing.com

Fee: €27,500